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Public gets sneak peek at design options for downtown

Bill Hoffmann looks over an artist’s rendering of Concept Four depicting an expanded super-block, part of the proposed changes to Main Street, during an open house at the Whitman Educational Building, 4th Street and Ute Avenue, on Wednesday.

By {screen_name}
Thursday, May 28, 2009

It’s been 47 years since Main Street’s last makeover.

Wednesday night, the Downtown Development Authority revealed four potential looks for the street’s next makeover.

The project, tentatively scheduled for construction January through June 2010, is for the downtown blocks of Main Street and will include infrastructure improvements such as better lighting, reconstruction of brick planters, removal of unsafe or unhealthy trees, utility upgrades, drainage improvements, crosswalk improvements, waterline replacements, street reconstruction and enhanced pedestrian areas.

All infrastructure improvements will be paid for by the city of Grand Junction. The tab is expected to run $5,000-$6,000.

The DDA will pay for the rest of the renovations with a $3 million budget. The changes could range from a “basic streetscape” to an “expanded superblock. Here are the options:

• Concept 1: A mixture of more benches and kiosks, small play areas for children, trees and planters, more pedestrian space and possibly some fountains. Parking, traffic lanes and back-up lanes will remain the same, but some planters may be removed to provide additional sidewalk space.

• Concept 2: All of the amenities in concept one, plus the possible addition of a small stage on one of the blocks and the elimination of one or two parking spaces on each block in order to create more sidewalk space.

• Concept 3: Traffic lanes and loading zones would remain, but parking would be eliminated. This would only be done on one block, probably between Fourth and Fifth streets, while the remaining blocks would look like concept one or two. The superblock would also add pedestrian space, play areas for kids, seating, art, dining, fountains and a large stage. A grassy area may also be added.

• Concept 4: As with concept three, this would only be done on one block, probably between Fourth and Fifth streets, while the remaining blocks would look like concept one or two. Traffic lanes, loading zones and parking spots would be replaced with a pedestrian mall, a tree canopy play areas, a large stage area, a large central area with grass, lots of walking space and art, focal and kid fountains.

The block would have the ability to let emergency vehicles and parade cars ride through the area.